[andyM]

Im with Dazmond, i constantly have rolling debt in the thousands per month , so it is inevitable that you may have to write off some debt from bad payers from time to time. Ed

Of course we all have rolling debt.
The problem however is with the one's who won't or can't pay.
There is a difference.

[PoleKing]

its part and parcel of this trade . you really do put trust in people. i did a commercial clean last year which i did at that particular time of every month , id been doing it for over a year, when i returned home there was an email saying thank you for the service and he no longer required my services . (probably cheaper windy) i said that i had cleaned that day and i acknowledge his instruction and it would be the last time i would be doing it ,invoice went in and he didn't pay . his reason being he thought it was a coincidence that the day he cancelled was the day i cleaned it .... never got the money but i chase him every time i see him .. fun for me seeing him squirm especially when he has colleagues with him .. often drive by his flats and like to do something to his windows just so he didn't get my window clean for free 

Nick Pacey?

[James Bulton]

Its very easy to say do nothing just write if off when you are an established business and you have plenty income.But some folk do take the pee and steel you income.I say do what you think is worth the risk. Years ago a customer just said he had paid but he could not prove he paid and when I knocked he would not come to the door and yet I could see him at his desk working.
One of the windows was open so while I tried to get him come and discuss the payment, as I had a bank statement with me to prove my point.
His bill was 230 quid for gutters etc. So I put the pole against the window not seeing it was open and put a few liters into the house before I saw my mistake. So just put the pole in the van and left and never heard from him again. So I too have been unprofessional. If you find this bad so be it.

[P @ F]

Fair play James , i only lost 10 not 230 , for 230 i would have put his bleedin windows through !

RICH

[Aqua Power Solutions]

Andy, the end result is the same regardless if they have the money or not. If a customer does not want to pay then it is highly unlikely financially viable to pursue a small claims against the customer . Not only time consuming but i would rather concentrate my time on other matters in my business than a few quid here and there ! Ed

[P @ F]

Aqua , is that not just asking for people to walk on you though ?

I can see the mentality that if you turn over vast ammounts then "it dont matter "

I have had the biggest waliking over of my life lately , not even window related , just family life.

From now on i am taking back the mentality that if i get wronged then look out , cos im coming back for you , i got slack and paid big time , we even got driven from the family home , 2014 is going to be a fun year , screw the pro image with work matters , i am established !

As for the home affairs , i cant say too much 

Rich

[Fin Clearview]

Never take on new work in December as always get the ones who just want xmas clean. Look after regular customers and new ones who are genuine will wait til new year. Always ensure new quotes are happy with price and cleaning interval making sure they understand it's not a one off clean before starting any new work.

Xmas brings out all the idiots trying a one off clean to impress their relatives coming to stay!

Was only talking about this to a mate today. December is messers month of the year. Only do the regs.

[Joey Eastwood]

Easily resolved. First clean, double payment upfront. Then clean it as usual, and until they become an established customer dont clean it twice without them payin! if they dont wana pay upfront for the first clean obviously not that bothered about havin a window cleaner and gonna be a messer

[P @ F]

until you step in their dogs TURD 

rich

[Joey Eastwood]

Nothin worse than turd everywhere! Lol

[Aqua Power Solutions]

Rich, whenever we provide a service before we get paid then there is calculated risk. The trustworthy customers way out number the minority. Hope all goes well for you in 2014 . Ed

[P @ F]

Aqua , dont get me wrong , i very rarely get done by a customer , but i dont understand it when they do it for such a small amount , in some ways i would rather it be a large amount , that way i could maybe respect them more for being ballsy and getting one over .

But as said , doing it for a tenner is like stamping on my head !!!

Rich

[keyser soze]

its part and parcel of this trade . you really do put trust in people. i did a commercial clean last year which i did at that particular time of every month , id been doing it for over a year, when i returned home there was an email saying thank you for the service and he no longer required my services . (probably cheaper windy) i said that i had cleaned that day and i acknowledge his instruction and it would be the last time i would be doing it ,invoice went in and he didn't pay . his reason being he thought it was a coincidence that the day he cancelled was the day i cleaned it .... never got the money but i chase him every time i see him .. fun for me seeing him squirm especially when he has colleagues with him .. often drive by his flats and like to do something to his windows just so he didn't get my window clean for free 

Nick Pacey?

no it wasn't nick... he's a very good friend of mine.. although i could imagine him being a dodgy payer. have you had a bad experience darren

[Johnny B]

Aqua , is that not just asking for people to walk on you though ?

I can see the mentality that if you turn over vast ammounts then "it dont matter "

Rich

I don't turn over vast amounts of money, but I would still rather walk away from bad/non payers and concentrate my energy and time dealing with proper customers. Life's too short and I don't want to become bitter and twisted. Yes, they've got one over me. So what? They won't do it to me again (or to any other window cleaner that I tell about them). 

John 

[Johnny B]

Andy, the end result is the same regardless if they have the money or not. If a customer does not want to pay then it is highly unlikely financially viable to pursue a small claims against the customer . Not only time consuming but i would rather concentrate my time on other matters in my business than a few quid here and there ! Ed

I agree.

John

[PoleKing]

its part and parcel of this trade . you really do put trust in people. i did a commercial clean last year which i did at that particular time of every month , id been doing it for over a year, when i returned home there was an email saying thank you for the service and he no longer required my services . (probably cheaper windy) i said that i had cleaned that day and i acknowledge his instruction and it would be the last time i would be doing it ,invoice went in and he didn't pay . his reason being he thought it was a coincidence that the day he cancelled was the day i cleaned it .... never got the money but i chase him every time i see him .. fun for me seeing him squirm especially when he has colleagues with him .. often drive by his flats and like to do something to his windows just so he didn't get my window clean for free 

Nick Pacey?

no it wasn't nick... he's a very good friend of mine.. although i could imagine him being a dodgy payer. have you had a bad experience darren

With Nick? No, never worked for him.
Just knew he has flats in town that George used to clean.

[evercleanindia]

This is really bad.. Even we have faced these problems in our company. In india this is very common, most of the people do this, we are used to it. Dont worry you will get your money back.

[Carl2009]

This is really bad.. Even we have faced these problems in our company. In india this is very common, most of the people do this, we are used to it. Dont worry you will get your money back.

I see you are in Coimbatore. I bet I'm the only person on here that's been to Coimbatore!

All the best to you!

[PoleKing]

This is really bad.. Even we have faced these problems in our company. In india this is very common, most of the people do this, we are used to it. Dont worry you will get your money back.

I see you are in Coimbatore. I bet I'm the only person on here that's been to Coimbatore!

All the best to you!

DannyMack has a mate from there.

[Carl2009]

This is really bad.. Even we have faced these problems in our company. In india this is very common, most of the people do this, we are used to it. Dont worry you will get your money back.

I see you are in Coimbatore. I bet I'm the only person on here that's been to Coimbatore!

All the best to you!

That may well be so, but I still reckon I'm the only person on here who has actually been there lol 

DannyMack has a mate from there.